Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago was elected the 267ᵗʰ pope of the Roman Catholic Church on 8 May 2025, taking the name Leo XIV and becoming both the first American and the first Augustinian to lead the Church in its two-millennia history.
Announced with the traditional "Habemus Papam" from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Leo XIV greeted a cheering crowd with the words “Peace be with you all,” marking the beginning of a papacy that many hope will bridge tradition and modern challenges.
At 69, Pope Leo brings decades of international pastoral experience—especially in Peru where he served as a missionary and bishop—along with a recent role as head of the Dicastery for Bishops, giving him deep insight into the Church’s global structure.
He now follows in the footsteps of Pope Francis as the second pope from the Americas, and like his predecessor, he is known for his concern for the marginalized, though he holds more conservative views on doctrinal matters such as women’s roles in ministry.
While his election surprised some observers, Leo XIV is widely seen as a centrist who will be tasked with maintaining the Church’s unity at a time of growing internal polarization, and continuing the delicate balance between upholding tradition and responding to evolving expectations among the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
